Ajax vs Rangers, Champions League: live score and latest updates

GOOOAAAALLLLL

Rangers can't near the ball here against the rapid speed of attack from Ajax.

But then a Rangers break! Colak links up with Tillman and the American is away. His hold-up play is excellent as he sets up cClak for a shot which is blocked.

Better from the visitors.

Excellent from the hosts, who get Tadic free down the left after some neat link-up play. 

The ball across the six-yard box finds no one before a Bergwijn shot misses the mark. These are some early warning signs for Rangers.

Earn pattern developing here with Rangers sitting in tight as Ajax dominate possession. 

The pace of Ryan Kent on the break could be vital for Rangers this evening if this pattern continues.

Ooo that's a little naughty from Mohammed Kudus, who catches Connor Goldson with a leading arm as the defender looks to make a defensive header. Nothing from the ref though.

That could be a battle to watch early in this one

At the other end, Rangers have their first sniff as a poor defensive header from Ajax gives Malik Tillman the ball in a dangerous area. As with Ajax, nothing comes of it.

Ajax make a positive start as Kenneth Taylor is released down the left but the attack soon peters out.

We are underway.....

It is an understatement to stay that the Johan Cruyff Arena is bouncing.

An incredible sound emanating from one of world football's great arenas.....the Rangers fans are seriously playing their part as well.

The teams are on their way out at the Johan Cruyff Arena....

What an atmosphere in Amsterdam tonight.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has spoken to BT Sport ahead of this one.

"We were very disappointed with the result at the weekend but it’s a good opportunity to show we can have another performance.

"It’s a tough loss, if you lose against Celtic the way we did its always going to be a knock. It has to feel like a knock because it's a bad result. But then again we have to look forward to the games that are coming and of course we are very excited to be involved in the Champions League.

"It means a lot, I've been involved in the competition for many years as a player and as a coach and it's a big moment for all of us to be back again after 12 years. We're going to enjoy it and I know for sure the fans will enjoy this moment as well."

In the sudden absence of our previous post, here is the Rangers side in full once again.

McLauchlin, Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic, Lundstram, Kamara, Tillman, Wright, Colak, Kent.

Substitutes: McGregor, McCrorie, Morelos, Ridvan, Matondo, Jack, King, Devine, Arfield, Davis, Davies, Sakala.

Gio van Bronckhorst makes one change from the side who were humbled by Celtic on Saturday, as Scott Wright comes in for Steven Davis.

Alfredo Morelos, recalled to the squad for the Old Firm clash, remains on the bench.

Someone needs to get the information in our last post to this lonesome Rangers fan.

 Elsewhere, the teams are out warming up at the Johan Cruyff Arena...

The visitors loss at Parkhead last weekend was striking but they do not travel to Amsterdam tonight without a chance of getting a result.

Ajax were beaten 5-3 by PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup to open their season, the same PSV who fell to Rangers in Champions League qualifying.

There should be plenty of optimism in the Rangers camp ahead of this one.

Rangers captain James Tavernier: "As a squad, win, draw, lose, we all look back on how we can improve. This was the same.

"We openly speak, and the staff and the boss put the points across. It's something we always go through no matter what the scoreline and we know it's something we need to put right."

Ajax head coach Alfred Schreuder: "It is a new challenge for us. We have been analysing their games - they press high and try to play. You can see the hand of their coach on how they play.

"They are a very competitive team, they will try and press us in the beginning. We know Gio very well. You look at his style of coaching and I don't think we have many big surprises coming. We are very well prepared."

Pasveer, Timber, Bassey, Alvarez, Bergwijn, Taylor, Tadic, Rensch, Blind, Kudus, Berghuis

Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Gorter, Klaassen, Lucca, Sanchez, Brobbey, Ocampos, Kaplan, Grillitsch, Baas, Magallan, Conceicao.

….and welcome to the Johan Cruyff Arena, the home of Ajax, as Rangers return to the Champions League group stage for the first time in 12 years.

Gio van Bronkhorst’s side came through a tough qualifying run to get to this point, beating another Dutch giant, PSV Eindhoven, in the deciding tie to take their place in European football’s premier cup competition. 

This evening feels like the continuation of a magical European run for Rangers, whose trip to the Europa League final last season, conjured memories of the blue side of Glasgow’s great sides of the 1960s and 70s - when success on the continent was as much expected as it was enjoyed. Times are different now though and Van Bronckhorst will know this competition will present the sternest challenge his players have faced as a group. 

What's more, their form could certainly be better. A 4-0 Old Firm battering by Celtic last weekend underlined the defensive problems that plagued them domestically at the back-end of last season. Van Bronkhorst described the display as “very disappointing” and he will know as well as anyone that more will be needed in Amsterdam tonight. 

In Ajax, Rangers face a side very much in transition. Manager Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United this summer, along with a host of key players including Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Sebastien Haller.

However, the Dutch giants have always been experts in what might be termed footballing regeneration and their quick start to the domestic season suggests they will prove as hard to handle as ever in Europe. 

Alfred Schreuder has the likes of Steven Bergwijn and former Rangers centre-back Calvin Bassey to call on, as well as more established names including club captain Dusan Tadic. 

This will be a massive test for Rangers, make no mistake, but this is a side who have saved their best for Europe in recent times and it would be shocking if they didn’t at least exceed the level of performance shown at Parkhead on Saturday - a low bar though that may be.